Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi

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Chapter 39 – Walpurgis Night (2)

Stern’s Bell was particularly unkind to Eleanor.

Most of the events take place from Pierre’s point of view, and little was said about Eleanor’s position.

It just shows her flatly and briefly.

As described as a devastating romance fantasy, Eleanor’s life was a thorny road. She suffered from poverty as a child, and was sometimes put at risk because of her striking appearance.

After she entered the Duke’s house, she had to endure the contempt of her family. Having been trampled on like that, she developed an ambition to rise to a position where no one could put her under their feet.

So, she chose Pierre.

The next King of Stern, who would give her the highest place she could climb.

At first, she knew that Pierre was in love with her and only took advantage of it. However, as the main character, he cannot become a complete antagonist. He had a wound that resembled her, and she felt sympathy with him. Eventually, that feeling gradually changed to sincerity.

That was all the Eleanor set by the writer.

Sienna was fiddling with Shushu’s ear, as her habit was.

“What is Eleanor thinking now?”

She was the one who appeared in the hall at the most striking timing of the debutante ball.

Everyone wanted to come out early and meet the King at least once and get an impression, but Eleanor’s purpose was only Pierre.

The last time she told her something about Pierre she didn’t know, he was still the one she needed.

And today, according to the original story, at midnight when the fireworks begin, Eleanor fell into the pond due to the envy of the young ladies. Apparently, Eleanor couldn’t swim, and Pierre was there.

Of course, he jumped into the muddy water and rescued her.

Eleanor’s heart was shaken when he saved her by jumping into the dirty water without hesitation.

‘It was a pretty beautiful scene when I read it.’

It was not a beautiful development at all for Sienna now.

‘It’s okay. There’s still plenty of time.’

The sun had just set and it was getting dark.

‘Let’s think about it. There must be a way. Sienna, focus.’

She should…

‘No. No, I can’t! How am I supposed to focus now?’

She felt dizzy from the warmth she felt behind her back. Every time the horse moved, his arms rubbed against her.

‘He’s too close…!’

Sienna held Shushu tightly in place of the reins that she handed over to Dan.

‘Even in this situation, my heart is beating.’

She was so easy to the point of admiring himself. After a while, a smooth road appeared, and he sped up and asked.

“Did you know how to ride her horse?”

“Yes. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden it. Next time…”

‘Would you like to go horseback riding together?’

As she was about to ask, Sienna spared the words.

It was because she probably won’t be able to go out for a while. It was time for her mood, which had barely lifted, to subside again.

— Shushu?

She then called out to Shushu, feeling like it was staring at her.

— Do you have anything to say?

Sienna had now reached the stage where she felt emotions in the round, motionless eyes.

— Don’t look…

— Don’t look?

— Don’t look good.

— …Yes. I know, too…

— That’s a relief.

— But… you, too?

Shushu was as dirty as Sienna.

There was dirt on the pale pink face. Although it looked rather a pity, it was still cute. Since she couldn’t keep walking around in her pajamas, so she roughly bought a cloak from the stall.

“I have a place to stop by.”

As Shushu said, her appearance wasn’t good. If she went into the castle as she was, she would have been surrounded by strange rumors.

Today was Walpurgis Night, and only invited nobles could enter the castle.

The door would be opened only after showing an invitation with the royal violet seal. The invitation was to Dan, so there was no problem, and it would not be too late if they hurry up and dress up from now on.

The important thing was that Sienna had never been out of the castle.

She had to appear naturally in a casual way.

Since there were crowds in the square, the street where luxury shops were gathered was quiet for a long time. Sienna pressed down on her cloak and entered Lang’s boutique.

“Pri, Princess?”

Seeing her appearance, Lang unwittingly covered her mouth.

She had a lot of questions to ask, but she was quick-witted and greeted Sienna casually.

“Madam. I’m sorry, can I ask you a favor?”

“Tell me anything.”

“Could you send someone to the castle to deliver my letter to Sir Arthur Mackenzie, my escort knight?”

He must have been worried.

She thought she should tell him the news sooner rather than later. Besides, there was Emmet’s person inside the palace.

So, she had to figure out what was going on first.

“It must be Arthur McKenzie himself.”

“Yes. I’ll send someone right away.”

“Thank you. Oh, and I want to ask you one more thing.”

***

After taking Sienna to Madame Lang’s boutique, Dan and Kias went back to the information guild Nine’s hideout.

“Thank you for today.”

“The thing will come in a month.”

“I know it well without having to say it, but forgot what you saw and heard today.”

“Close the door and leave.”

The two of them just said their own words and turned around.

It didn’t even feel strange that the conversation was not continuing because it was so familiar.

Dandelion grabbed his coat and present and ran out of the hideout.

***

At the same time, Sienna was bathing in the bathroom inside the boutique. As she immersed her in the warm water, her fatigue and pain that she had forgotten about at the time flooded in.

She had been tied up for hours, and there was nothing that didn’t hurt.

As she tapped her shoulder, she suddenly stopped.

“It’s kind of miserable.”

— Why?

“Just. This situation and my circumstances.”

She was sad, but her life was more important than revenge.

Although Sienna herself was the outright victim, she knew the culprit and could not make him pay the price he deserved. She had to be suspicious of everything around her until she entered the Castle and stood before those who knew her face.

She couldn’t even believe her family.

“Will my father abandon Pierre and choose me?”

It was a pointless question.

Her life was too precious to bet on anything that had the slightest chance.

“The story is changing.”

There was no such thing as a princess being kidnapped in the original story.

It was the change she had brought in. Nevertheless, the debutante and the Walpurgis Night proceeded without fail.

Originally, Sienna would not appear on Walpurgis Night.

In the debutante, Pierre asked Eleanor to dance first, while she became the laughingstock of the socialites and was devastated.

“Ugh! I don’t know what it is.”

She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was playing a nasty prank on her life.

“…I don’t want to go back.”

With that thought, she let out a weak voice and slipped her body.

“Did Pierre know?”

— You mean Emmet’s plan?

“Huh…”

Sienna soaked her head all the way in the bathtub.

‘Even if it’s half, a younger sibling is a younger sibling. Besides, Emmet, why is he so…’

…She never wanted the throne.

Rather, she was busy taking care of her body.

“It’s unfair.”

Sienna hit the water with her fist. But, the water splashed a little out of the bathtub, and her fists lost the strength and sank into the water.

Now, the castle was not safe.

Even though she believed that death was still far away, and she found herself lying next to it this quickly instead…

Shushu called for Sienna, who was going into the water over and over again.

— Can I show you a forward roll?

“…Here?”

— The artisan doesn’t blame the place.

“Are you comforting me now?”

— No.

“I’m proud of you.”

— ….

“I laughed because of you.”

— What does that mean?

“It means you’re great.”

— You mean you realized that now?

“Since you’re so great, tell me. What should I do when I’m upset? What should I do to make myself feel better?”

— First, you need to find the person who made you feel unfair. And…

“You’re a genius.”

Sienna jumped out of the bathtub without listening to Shushu.

— I haven’t finished my talk yet?

“I’ll hear from you later.”

The important thing has already been heard.

Exactly what she wanted to hear.

Here, if she thought about it alone like this, it would only hurt her heart. Besides, if someone hated her for no reason, it would be enough to give reason to do so.

“Let’s go… To that person.”

Seeing her returning intact, she became very curious about what kind of expression Pierre would make.

After the bath, she left with Madame Lang’s dress.

“A festival needs clothes that match it.”

“How do you still have these clothes?”

“There’s a certain feeling that you get when you get older. In addition, I haven’t met the lady to whom I wanted to give this dress yet. Though the owner is here now.”

On Walpurgis Night, more nobles than the debutante gathered. Not only the Capital, but also the local nobility and married nobles flocked to it, so of course, she thought she couldn’t obtain Lang’s clothes.

She thought that just one plain dress would be enough.

The light sky blue dress had a simple design, but the sash wrapped around the waist was elongated and looked great.

“Ah! I also prepared a red ribbon for our rabbit.”

“Thank you so much, Madame.”

“It’s an honor for me.”

Sienna adjusted her appearance and changed into the bright red shoes.

The dress code she set for this festival was ‘red.’

She had to have a red color everywhere, whether it was a dress or floral decorations.

Sienna had received unwanted attention with her red hair, so she wrote it down as a joke, although Rafelle proceeded as it was.

‘Will I be less visible today…?’

Sienna finally wore a wide-brimmed hat that half-covered her face. Some of the garrisons may know her face.

Ring.

When she was ready, the well-timed bell rang.

“Dan!”

At the entrance, a pretty good carriage was waiting for her. Dandelion, who was well dressed even in an evening coat, reached out to her.

“Thank you.”

Sienna took his hand and climbed into the carriage.

The carriage ran with full force through the quiet streets. As she had been immersed in her thoughts while looking at the window, she eventually turned her head to the gaze she felt.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“…No.”

Even though he said so, somehow, his gaze continued to linger on her hat. He turned his head again, and Dandelion pushed the box deeper into his arms.

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the city gate.

From here on, they could not pass by in a carriage unless she was a member of the Royal Family.

The two stood side by side in front of the torch-lit gate.

“Can you show me the invitation?”

The knight guarding the entrance politely requested. Then, Dandelion took out an invitation with the royal seal from his chest and handed it.

Immediately, the knight who confirmed his name was admiring with a fuss.

“Ah! As expected, you’re Sir Mont! Last time, the match was really impressive.”

Damn it…

Of all things, he was a knight who knew Dan.

And, as always, the ominous premonition turned to Sienna, who was arm in arm with Dandelion.

“Excuse me, but I know you are single, but who is next to you…?”

Dandelion hesitated for a moment at the knight’s question and then moved his arms, while Sienna gazed up at him curiously.

Finally, wrapping his arms around her shoulder, he opened his mouth.

“…My fiancé.”

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